Stringed musical instrument.



PATENTED APR. 17, 1906.

E. A. RANDALL. STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED OGT.9. 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 818,289. PATENTED APR. 1'7, 1906.

E. A. RANDALL. STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED 0GT.9.1905.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

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UNITED STATES ELEAZER A. RANDALL, OF MONMOUTH, ILLINOIS.

STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 17., 1906.

Application filed October 9, 1905. Serial No. 282,041.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ELEAZER A. RANDALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Monmouth, in the county of Warren and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Stringed Musical Instrument, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in stringed musical instruments having each a sound-box, and to that particular type or class of which belong guitars, mandolins, and the like; and the objects of the invention are to produce a symmetrical instrument of the character described in which the resonancy will be increased and the sound-waves rendered more intense, while at the same time the notes will be liquid and dulcet.

An instrument embodying the preferred constructive forms of and showing the mutual relationship and combinations of the parts forming the subject-matter of my improvements is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which the several parts are constructed, combined, and arranged in the best way now known to .me. Obviously, however, some of these improvements may be used without the others without departing from the purview of my invention.

Like numerals refer to like parts in the several figures of the drawings, in which Figure 1 is a top plan; Fig. 2, a vertical central section Fig. 3, a sectional view in the line 3 3 in Fig. 1; Fig. 4, a perspective, the neck and tailpieces not shown; Fig. 5, a top plan; Fig. 6, a bottom plan, and Fig. 7 a sectional view taken in the line 7 7 in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents a semispherical or bowl-shaped body or soundbox having a top or sound-board 2. 3, 4, 5, and 6 represent, respectively, the neck, strings, bridge, and tailpiece common to this class of instruments.

7 is a sound-conducting pipe and is glued or in any other preferred manner fixed to the inner portion of the sound-board in such manner that the perimeter of one of its ends surrounds the sound hole or opening thereof.

8 8 represent substantially parallel vibratory bars, glued or in any other preferred manner fixed at their ends to the concavity i 1 of the body 1 longitudinally of the neck 3. Their median portions lie some distance from the lowermost portions of the body and are supported on a second bridge 9 transversely thereof, which bridge is of such height that it will be firmly held in place by frictional contact in the usual manner of such devices.

10 and 11 are obliquely-disposed securingbraces and serve to prevent warping of the top 2, which latter may be secured to the body in any preferred manner after the sound-amplifying devices are in place.

The pipe 7 is of such length that its lower portion will, when in place, rest firmly and securely upon the vibratory bars which support it.

I have shown the body 1 of the instrument as an integral one, preferably turned from a block of suitable wood. This construction while economic of manufacture is strong, not disposed to crack or check upon exposure or in use, will not warp, is free from angularity, and its exterior presents an admirable surface for ornamentation, as by carving or inlaying. The neck, head, keys, and other parts of the instrument not herein particularly described may be of any preferred constructions.

Having thus described the nature of my invention and the best means of carrying the same into effect, I claim as new 1. A musical instrument of the class described, having a body provided with a soundopening, a bridge seated within said body, vibratory bars fixed longitudinally to and within said body, their median portions resting on said bridge, and a pipe or tube arranged to rest above said bridge between said bars and the top of the body.

2. In an instrument of the class described, a neck and a sound-box, a bridge resting on the top of the box, a second bridge resting on the bottom thereof, vibratory bars resting thereon, their ends fixed to the body portion of the box, and a pipe or tube intermediate the parallel bars and the top of the soundbox.

3. In a stringed instrument of the class described, a sound boX provided With a F In testimony whereof I have hereunto set sound-opening in the top thereof, a bridge my hand this 30th day of September, 1905.

arranged Within the sound-box, vibrating ELEAZER A RANDALL bars resting thereupon, and a sound-conducting pipe resting upon said bars and its upper Witnesses:

edge contacting said top around the sound- P. R. RICHARDS, opening, J. F. HAMILTON. 

